Picturesque Rivers and Mountains in the Red Chamber

Chapter 284 Chapter 4.80 How could it be possible without Wang Ziteng’s means?
Volume Four

4.80 How could it be possible without Wang Ziteng’s means?
Soon, a group of well-qualified maids entered the living room. After some orderly tidying up, a familiar table of "coarse food" was already placed on the table. This also made Zhou Yang quite helpless. He persuaded her more than once. Wang Shuying, tell her not to spend so much money, but every time she just said it and let it go, and then everything went on as usual.

What's even more annoying is that the "exposed" table in the living room is actually prepared for Xue Xun, Xue Biao and Zhou Yang. There is another table for the female family members behind the screen that has been placed. The three men just now After Ding was "kicked out", Wang Shuying had already taken the seats with sisters Xue Baochai and Xue Baoqin, and took Zhao Qiying and Qingwen to sit with her.

"It's rare for the whole family to gather together today, and I'm quite honored." After everyone was seated, the actual owner Wang Shuying's "opening speech" came from behind the screen, "It's a pity that for the sake of business and future, relatives can't see each other; now it's a festive season. It’s coming soon, so don’t be polite, and don’t be too humble with a little home-cooked food.”

"Thank you, sister-in-law, for your hospitality." Xue Xun smiled and stood up to answer.

After some greetings, the banquet started. Although the feudal era was about "eating without talking or sleeping without talking", the occasion also had to be distinguished. At least this kind of family dinner could not be done, especially with the addition of Xue Baoqin, a happy girl, who couldn't even think of being silent. Even if Xue Xun scolded him twice in the middle, Wang Shuying helped stop him. What's more, China has a tradition of discussing things at the table since ancient times, especially business.

"Sister-in-law, business has been smoother than ever this year. Except for a few minor troubles, there has been no loss at all." After three rounds of wine and five delicious dishes, Xue Xun took the opportunity to start the "reporting work". He used to report to Xue Tu , now we should be asking Xue Pan, the nominal "head of the family", but in his absence it can only be Wang Shuying, "I just talk about making money, but in less than a year, I have nearly 300 million taels in the account."

"Really?" Wang Shuying was dumbfounded on the spot, "Isn't the second uncle trying to fool a woman like me?"

"Sister-in-law is joking, how dare I?" Xue Xun said with a smile. Anyway, he and the Xue family are actually in a cooperative relationship now, so there is no need to hide it anymore. "And what I'm talking about is just the business that I manage." , Ziyang is making arrangements for the Northland side, and except for shipping, my little brother has never interfered."

"Mother, my second uncle is right." Xue Baochai said with a smile, "My daughter has been checking accounts with Sister Zhao these days. The harvest at Beidixuezihao is also good. Although only more than [-]% of it has been processed so far, but overall calculation, There should be no less than one million in the account, and since this is my own harvest, all the money that should be dispersed has been deducted."

"Is this?" Wang Shuying was even more stunned, "Isn't it too much of a difference?"

"Madam, it's not surprising. The main reason is that the second uncle's business is almost exclusively operated, and the profit is naturally higher; although Beidi Xuezi is engaged in the north-south freight business, we are not the only one. After the profit is shared, the profit is higher." The gain will be less.”

In fact, the most profitable business of the Xue family's second house has never been sea trade and shipping, but salt and iron goods. Not only can these things not be brought to the table, but even Wang Shuying and Xue Baochai have to hide them. , this year’s revenue of 300 million taels, shipping accounted for less than 200%, maritime trade and other legal businesses totaled less than one million, and nearly [-] million taels were gray income.

"That's it!" Wang Shuying breathed a sigh of relief, "No wonder my second brother has sent me many letters in the past few days, hoping to cooperate with us; my second sister-in-law even brought Luan'er to visit us several times. This is also the reason why we probably saw our harvest.”

"My wife won't agree, right?" Zhou Yang was stunned for a moment and asked hurriedly. He was really afraid that Wang Shuying wouldn't be able to handle it. This girl is not stupid, but her vision is really not that good.

"Just because. How could I agree?" Wang Shuying said with a wry smile, "It has been almost 20 years since I first entered the Xue family. I have never seen this second sister-in-law speak so politely; even Even this niece, I only met once when she was having a bath, and I forgot that she is one year younger than Bao Yatou."

"Niece?" Zhou Yang frowned, "Why haven't you heard of her?"

"Brother Zhou, my sister Luan'er is a concubine. It's just that my uncle is weak and has always been raised like a pearl." A cousin."

"That's it." Zhou Yang muttered "Wang Luan'er" silently in his heart, and then thought about the name "Wang Xifeng". It seemed that Wang Ziteng, or the Wang family, was really angry, "Madam, the Wang family didn't let you down just because you didn't agree. What shall we do?"

"This has never happened." Wang Shuying thought for a while and replied.

"Sister-in-law, it's not that there is nothing, it's just that the Wang family here in the south of the Yangtze River is unable to take action." Unexpectedly, Xue Xun laughed, "Zi Yang may not have received the news yet. The business of the Snow Brand in the North has been in some trouble these days. , most of them were unscrupulous means, and even the Wang family at the head office went to 'receive' them, but Zhang Dehui knocked them back.

Speaking of which, it was thanks to the manpower you left behind before leaving the capital. After that, Zhang Dehui went to the Duke of Qi to ask for help, and soon this kind of thing went out of business. I got the news from Jinmen Semicolon, and I heard that It was Wang Ziteng who was reprimanded by the Ministry of War. The reason was that the military discipline of Qianhu, directly under the Yamen of Jingying Jiedushi, was in disorder and the morale of the army was disorganized. "

"Qiying?" Zhou Yang asked immediately.

"Brother Zhou, that's true." Zhao Qiying is in charge of the family's intelligence system, and naturally she will not miss it. There is no loss, so I am not in a hurry to say it; one more thing, the Wang family does not have much background in the capital, and this matter is basically over." "In the future, if it is related to the Wang family, tell me as soon as possible." Zhou Yang clicked Nodded, but still said one more sentence, "Although Wang Ziteng was overwhelmed, there are still many disgusting methods-the Beijing Ying Jiedu envoy directly belongs to Qianhu, if I didn't hear it today, I would have forgotten There is such an army."

"What's the use? If Wang Ziteng really has the ability to bring him out, I can still look up to him." Xue Xun said disdainfully, "Ziyang may not care too much, but I have not forgotten this white-eyed wolf; after all, it's still I have to thank him. If the Wang family hadn't wanted to enter the official career and gave up the sea trade business, I wouldn't have been able to accept such a good thing.

Each of the four families of King Xue of Jia Shi has its own division of labor. The Jia family has a double-king family, which has always been in charge of its own military power. The ancestor of the Shi family, Shangshu Ling Shi Gong, is a civil official. The capital Taiwei of the Wang family controls the county uncle. He is quite favored in the court and has side branches. They are also engaged in the maritime trade business. The Xue family is in charge of the money bags of four companies in the world. There should be no loopholes in it. "

"I didn't expect that since the first generation of the Wang family took control of the county, there has never been a figure who can be on the stage." Zhou Yang murmured, "The family is only engaged in maritime business, and they are gradually driven out of the official career; the previous generation of the Wang family The head of the family was not willing to do this, so he asked the Jia family for help before returning to the army, but he wasted nearly ten years because of the matter of his eldest son."

"That's right!" , he can’t adjust many things, and because he danced too happily, he offended all the core martial arts families. Anyway, I can’t think of how he can get ahead in the future.”

"Oh, daddy, we already talked about eating, why are you starting again!" As soon as Xue Xun finished speaking, he heard Xue Baoqin's irritation coming from the screen, "If you want to discuss business, you can discuss it yourself!"

"Uh-hahaha!" Xue Xun, who doted on his daughter, laughed loudly, and Zhou Yang and Xue Biao stopped talking in time.

However, none of the three of them noticed that Xue Baochai looked troubled behind the screen, while Wang Shuying's face turned pale at this time!

That night, the Xue family garden greenhouse.

"Shuying, come to me." Zhou Yang asked puzzledly. It was only a short time ago, not long after dinner. Ordinarily, given Wang Shuying's caution, she shouldn't have chosen this time to meet him.

"Are you serious about what you and Second Uncle said during the day?" Wang Shuying asked bitterly.

"This -" Zhou Yang finally realized that among the people present at that time, the three men outside would naturally not have anything good to say about Wang Ziteng. Although Xue Baochai should be called uncle, no matter now or in the original novel, she still said nothing to the Wang family. Not to mention feelings, let alone Zhao Qiying and Qingwen, only Wang Shuying was really uncomfortable.

"Ziyang, if you and I are like this, do we still need to hide it?" Wang Shuying looked sad and shed tears.

"That's right." After thinking for a while, Zhou Yang nodded helplessly, "I know you still have feelings for him, but there are some things that you really can't continue. Let's talk about what happened to Wang Ren last time. Although I didn't ask about it after that, you should still remember the Wang family. In the name of Brother Wenlong who took advantage of the opportunity, how much money was stolen from each branch?"

"More than ten thousand taels." Wang Shuying said with a wry smile.

"This time Mrs. Wang's whole heart wants to intervene in the business of Xuezihao. Once she succeeds, she will have to employ Wang's staff." Zhou Yang gently embraced the beautiful woman, and told the truth cruelly, "To say that complete control is Fart, but you took the opportunity to get a few marks, how can you still tear yourself apart?"

In the original work, the Xue family gradually declined after Xue Tu's death, but at least they maintained their dignity; but when Xue Pan became a "living dead" and entered the Rongguo Mansion to take refuge, it collapsed like an avalanche, and eventually even got into a little trouble. , we can only beg the Jia family for help; the Jia family is indeed unclean here, so how could it be possible without Wang Ziteng's means?

Even so, he couldn't do anything about it. In the original work, his so-called "control of nine provinces" and "inspection of all nine provinces" were specifically checked by Zhou Yang. These two were not actual duties in the Zhou Dynasty, but It was a temporary assignment, similar to the current "Patrol Sword". Later, he even entered the pavilion, but died inexplicably on the way back, ending miserably. No one cared about him after his death.

"Zi Yang, is money really so important? It can even make him ignore family ties at all? I am his biological sister, how could he do it in the first place!" Wang Shuying couldn't help it anymore, and fell in love. Lang cried bitterly in his arms.

“Mr. But as long as he wants to go up, he needs the help of money. The Wang family has already had little harvest, and has lost the support of the Xue family. If he wants to get more, he can only attack the Xue family."

"Stop talking!" Wang Shuying shook her head in pain, "Don't tell me these things again in the future. I will just pretend that you don't know anything. You only need to arrange the business of Xue Zihao, and Bao Yatou will take care of the accounts. No matter how you deal with the outside world in the future, So, it’s up to you—and I’m up to you!”

(End of this chapter)